North Korea’s actions as the threat to global peace and security

Resolution adopted by the EPP Political Assembly, Brussels, 4th-5th December 2017

Recognizing that:

On 3 September 2017, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) tested a hydrogen bomb designed to be mounted on its newly developed intercontinental ballistic missile, producing a greater yield than any of its previous nuclear tests.

On 3 September 2017, the explosion created a magnitude-6.3 tremor, making it the most powerful weapon Pyongyang has ever tested.

On 28 November 2017, the DPRK launched an Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that travelled for 50 minutes and reached, 4500 km in height – its potential target enabling it to reach the entire continental United States, including Washington, DC.

A radiation leak at the site of the DPRK’s massive bomb test is “inevitable”, a Chinese nuclear weapons expert warned, after authorities in China reported that the mountain where the explosion took place had collapsed.

On 3 September 2017, Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the DPRK’s most recent nuclear test in the strongest possible terms. Europe has “an important voice in the world”, and it should use this to bring about a peaceful solution to the conflict, Chancellor Angela Merkel[1].

On 3 September 2017, President Donald Tusk made a statement on the DPRK’s nuclear test – The EU stands ready to sharpen its policy of sanctions and invites North Korea to restart dialogue on its programmes without condition[2].

The North Atlantic Council (NAC) condemns the DPRK’s illegal actions in the strongest possible terms, as they threaten regional and international stability and the goal of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner[3].

On 7 September 2017, Federica Mogherini after meeting with the EU foreign ministers announced, “the ministers decided to support increased economic pressure on North Korea.”

Acknowledging that:

The DPRK blatantly violates international law, the international community must provide a resolute and unified response.

“The DPRK blatant disregard of international agreements and binding UN Security Council resolutions, and its confrontational actions, jeopardize the prospects for lasting peace in the Korean Peninsula, and undermine international peace and security” – NATO[4].

“It is now imperative that all nations implement more thoroughly and transparently existing UN sanctions and make further efforts to apply decisive pressure to convince the DPRK regime to abandon its current threatening and destabilizing path” – NATO[5].

EPP calls on:

The European Union to strengthen restrictive measures against the DPRK and its authorities to stop its nuclear program.

The UN Security Council to support draft resolution proposed by the United States to strengthen sanctions, “including an oil embargo, a ban on textile exports and the hiring of North Korean laborers abroad as well as a travel ban and asset freeze for Kim Jong-un” in order show stronger unified response and achieve a peaceful denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

The High Representative Federica Mogherini to initiate a round table of negotiations with DPRK and the other major countries involved, having the EU as unique mediator.

The DPRK to recommit to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and comply with its Comprehensive Nuclear Safeguards Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), at an early stage.

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